Brown meets with U.S. Secretary of Defense

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (right) meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis.

Contributed photo

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis to outline Ohio military priorities. During the meeting, Brown invited Mattis to visit Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Air National Guard 178th Wing in Springfield.

Brown highlighted Wright-Patterson as a strong candidate for the location of a new Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx). In January, Brown wrote to then-Secretary Ash Carter asking him to consider Wright-Patt as a location for a new unit.

“The work done at Wright-Patt and the 178th Wing are critical to our national security and to southwest Ohio’s economy,” said Brown. “I appreciate Secretary Mattis meeting with me, and I look forward to working with him in the future on military matters that are important to Ohio.”

Earlier this year, Brown convened a roundtable at the University of Dayton Research Institute to discuss investments he helped secure for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), including federal funds authorized for base upgrades and research programs. Brown was joined by WPAFB officials, the Dayton Development Coalition, representatives from Sinclair Community College’s workforce development department, and local companies and researchers who have collaborated with the base.

In January, Brown voted in favor of retired Marine General James Mattis to serve as Secretary of Defense.

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (right) meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis.